The Dirty Dozen Fruit and Vegetable List by the Environmental Working Group comes out every year.

Were you aware that non-organic fruits such as peaches, strawberries and imported grapes are some of the most contaminated produce you can buy?

After analyzing over 85,000 government tests, the Environmental Working Group dubbed twelve fruits and vegetables the “dirty dozen.” So named because they’re the most likely to contain pesticide residue, and some of the “dirty dozen” can have dozens of different pesticides on them at once.

Of course, organic is your best option when buying produce. But, when you can’t go organic, take note of what you’re putting into your cart to make sure you’re not getting more than you bargained for!

Here is the Dirty Dozen fruit and vegetable list

Peaches
Apples
Bell peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Kale
Lettuce
Imported grapes
Carrots
Pears

I recommend you purchase these items only if they’re grown organically.

The Clean 15 fruit and vegetable list

In addition to naming the Dirty Dozen, the Environmental Working Group identified the “Clean Fifteen”. These are the fruits and vegetables that contain the least amount of pesticides even when they’re not specifically organic. They are:

Onion
Avocado
Sweet corn
Pineapple
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet peas
Kiwi
Cabbage
Eggplant
Papaya
Watermelon
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Sweet potatoes

This information is updated annually on the Environmental Working Group website.

Please check each year for the most recent Dirty Dozen, Clean Fifteen List.